Sunderland man arrested after former footballer suffers racial abuse

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing a football pundit.

The 21-year-old was detained by police in the Sunderland area on Tuesday morning after former footballer Stan Collymore received racial abuse via Twitter.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred."

Afterwards, the radio presenter expressed his gratitude to the police for their prompt response to the problem.

He said: "Many thanks to Greater Manchester and Northumbria Police forces for their prompt response to racism on Twitter".

Over recent days, the former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest striker has been involved in a public spat with Martin O’Neil centring on rumours, repeated on the presenter’s radio show, that the Sunderland manager had offered his resignation following a run of poor results.

Mr Collymore has previously been the victim of racial abuse on Twitter. In March, a 21-year-old Newcastle University student was given a two-year community order after he pleaded guilty to tweeting racial abuse at Collymore.